This site is a sort of museum in cyberspace full of odds and ends about life in Budleigh Salterton.
It celebrates among other things the connection between our corner of East Devon - birthplace of both Sir Walter Raleigh and Roger Conant, founder of Salem, Massachusetts - and the United States of America.
The site was inspired by the friendship link established in 2001 with the Cape Cod community of Brewster.

Friday, 31 July 2009

Budstock in a bottle

“Brewed specially to celebrate the summer sounds by the sea for which Budstock has become legend” as the label says, this real ale has been bottled in a limited edition for Budleigh Salterton’s own rock music festival.

You can’t ignore Glastonbury when it comes to West Country rock music festivals even though Budleigh people might like to think that Budstock http://www.myspace.com/budstock is the ultimate in such things. So it shouldn’t be too surprising to find that the new brew is a product of Somerset-based Glastonbury Ales http://www.glastonburyales.com/ The company specialises in real ale for festivals, marketing brews such as Lady of the Lake, Hedge Monkey, Golden Chalice and the punningly named Mystery Tor (surely this is worse that any of my own efforts on this blog?)On sale at Threshers http://www.threshergroup.com/ in Budleigh’s High Street, the bottles boast that they contain “real ale that really rocks.” The limited special edition 2009 was an initiative of Mike Reid, franchisee of Budleigh Threshers, and is surely a collectors’ item – worth getting an extra bottle to keep unopened.

About Me

Born in 1946, in Birmingham UK, of Scottish-Irish parentage, and brought up as a Roman Catholic. Early education may have driven me into teaching, in the belief that schools should offer a more enjoyable experience for children. Studied French at London University, specialising in 16th century literature. Then came 34 years of teaching French, along with red herrings and common sense, at Oundle School, Northamptonshire. Published articles in Etudes Rabelaisiennes, (a long time ago), and a couple of books - one big 'Oundle's War' (1995) - and one small 'The Scientist in The Cottage' (2013) - a biography of Henry Carter FRS (1813-95). Dabbles, and some people say meddles, in many areas. A passionate gardener, moved to Devon partly to grow ericaceous plants more easily. Other interests include family, cycling, walking, photography, reading, music, studying butterflies, chopping wood, DIY, playing on the scaffold tower, and networking for the Greater Good. Married to Anthea for over 40 years. Three children: Emily, Simeon and Rosanna, three granddaughters and two Bengal cats. Like an increasing number of my friends of my generation, I'm a cancer survivor – I hope!